The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-08-03
COERCING THE CLERGY.
Experiences of tho Charleston Churches
Aftor tho Occupation of the City.-Brutai
Order of tho Post Commander.
tFrom the Sunday News. J

From the Sunday Hews.)
Having just road the interesting sketch
Of "Tho Parish Church of st. Michael, F."
by Mr.. George S. Holmes, which forms
part OF tho ''Year Book" for 1856, and
having noticed slight inaccuracy on
page 3O7 Gin tho extract from the cGron-
Gle OF tho venerable A. II. Millcr) / am
tomptcd to correct it while recalling
other incidents Of the times referred to.
Tbs statement is;
'Ihc Rev. MIR. Howe oiliciatcd ut st.
Paul's, with othors, until some timo in
February, 1866, when ho left tho city in
consequence of his objecting to read the
prayer for the President of the United
States. The samo thing occurred to the
Rev. Mr.. Marshall, ID. D."
The facts arc: Rev. Mr.. Howe did not
leave tho city in February, and DIR.
Marshall never left at all.
The Rev. Mr.. now Bishop Howe had
been oiliciating at st. Paul's for somc
timc when, on tho morning Of the 18th
February, 1866, tho United States troops
entered end, while the fire which burst
out at tho Northeastern Railroad depot
was sweeping boforo it tho (thon) well
known residences in Chapel, Alexander
and Charlotte streets. In this day of
terror and distress tho Rev. hlr. Howe
brought comfort to many. On tho fol-
lowing Sundays those members of the
Episcopal Church, who were still In the
city, gathered around him ut st. Paurs
and, on the 18th and Goth of February
(Which days were Sundays,) amid ali
that was dark around them, had, at least
tho comfort Of undisturDed religious
worship.
In the beginning of March, however
Col. Stewart Ia. Woodford, commander
OF tho post, sent for Mr.. Howe, and,
while entirely courteous in his language
and manner, insisted that tho prayer
for tho President of the United States
should bo used, or MIR. Howe must leave
tho city. AS Mr.. Howe did not conccdc
to an army officer tho right to make
changes in tho ritual Of his church, Col.
Woodford notified him that he would be
sent out OF the city, with every facility
given him to reach his family; but, in
the meantime, consented to his holding
services on the 9th of March.
On that day MIR. Howe spoke fcclngly
TO his congregation, explaining tho posi-
| ton and taking leave Of us mono knew
FOR how long. His tones Gnd bearing
wcro so impressive that, on his retiring
to the vostry room, two officers of the
| United States navy who had attended
the service hurried nftor him and offered
to use their influence with Col. Wood
| ford to induce recall Of his or ter.
| Ihcy We're unsuccessful, and the next
day, March 6, the Rev. Mr.. Howe was
sent 10y steamer to Georgetown, S. G..
st. Paul's was then closed, but the ser
vices OF our church were still held in the
little st. Johns Chapel, Hampstead, by
that venerable, godly man, DR.. Alex.
Marshall.
Hero for weeks the saddcnod faces and
still saddcr hearts Of those who, pcnt up
III Charleston, saw the cnemy's heel
upon her neck, and felt it themselves,
gathered from Sunday to SUNDAY to
| pour out together their prayers and their
This place OF worship being remote from
tho groat highways OF the city, and SO
unprctCnding in itself it was hoped that
religious worship there at least would be
unmolcstcd. Ihcse hopes, however,
wore rudCly dispollcd when on tho 9th
! Il thinkl OF April the church wus closed
and DIR. Marshall given week tc ccido
whether he would take 'tho oat /, allc-
i glance" and use the prayer for tLO Pres
idcnt of the United States or leave the
city. DIR. Marshall wrote to Con. Hatch
to cXpostulatc. Here is the Generals
reply;
"uEADQUAETERs NORTHERN DISTRICT,
DEPARTMENT OF THE SoUTH.
CHARLEsToN April %, 1860. \
General Orders No. 20.
1t las been reported at these head.
quarters that the Rov. Alex w. Mar
shall, missionary of St. Johns Chapel,
Hampstead, has, in the services Of Che
said chapel, since tho occupation Of the
city by the United States forces, omitted
tho prayers for the President Of the
United States. In written communi
cation, addressed to tho commander OF
tho posi- OF Charleston, he styles the
prayer for tho President OF the United
States political prayer" 1t is, there
fore, ordered that he be sent beyond tho
lines of tho army, and he forbidden to
enter the city OF Charleston during it's
occupation by tho United States troops
without permission Of the commander OF
the district or department. 1t is further
ordered that his personal property be
coniiscGted to tho use of the United
States Government. IA punishing the
head OF tue congregation worshipping at
st. Johns Chapel the brigatlier- general
commanding desires it to be considered
n warning to those who, attending the
services for weeks, so fer foiEo. their
uu'J W NhSiA cohheJ us HOt W lulOim
the military authorities of the conduct
OF this disloyal priest, with other words
Of warning added
BY command of
Brig. Gen. John HAICH.
| LEONARD B. PERRY,
Acting Adiutant Goncr9l,'
This spcoIncn OF war literature, cot
multi. al was taken down at tho timo.
In the helpless and almost hopeless
condition of the times, in dread of being
left without Clergyman to bury ouS
dead, DIR. Ms frian2p induced hiaN to
submit, This tempered Hatohs anger,
and ho revoked the order, but DIR. Nj.
never used tho prayer until there was no
question as to the propriety OF using it.
Before tho next Sunday cGme found nc
was run over by careless driver, and